Chapter 4 — Unforgettable Taste

It took Luc Chinh three days to confirm the entire truth. Niem Chi Vi's legal director is To Niem's college friend. After he found every way to contact him, the other person only said one sentence:

"President To told me, it's not convenient to answer personal matters. If you need cooperation, please contact the brand department."

His ex-wife… now called that. He looked up the business registration information of Niem Chi Vi Food Technology Company Limited. Legal representative: To Niem. Registered capital: 50 million yuan. Date of establishment: October 2019. October 2019. That was when he failed to start his business, incurred 800,000 yuan in debt, and lived every day drunk. He lay flat on the floor like a pile of mud. During the day, To Niem takes care of him. At night, she went to the bakery. He used to think... she was just doing an odd job, not enough to support herself. Unexpectedly... at that time, she registered to establish a company. He continued to look up the development history. 2020: open 12 affiliated stores. 2021: expand to 50 stores. 2022: launch the franchise model, an explosive year of 300 stores. 2023: call for round A capital, valuation of 300 million yuan. 2024: call for round B capital, valuation of 800 million yuan. A perfect growth curve. Happening right before his eyes. But he... didn't know it. He suddenly remembered. One night in 2022, To Niem came home later than usual. He asked, she said she was trying a new cake recipe. But that night… she signed her hundredth franchise store contract. He closed his laptop, his whole body sinking deeper into the chair. The letter on the table… he had read it no less than twenty times. Every time I read it... it's like being slapped really hard. The phone rings. It's boss Chau.

"Luc Chinh, I'll be frank. On Niem Chi Vi's side, I've already asked the three relations classes. Their meaning is very clear - as long as you're still in the company, they won't cooperate again."

"… Why?"

"How do I know? You ask yourself." Boss Chau's voice was full of annoyance. "Customer 80 million yuan. If you can't handle it, figure it out yourself."

The phone hung up. Luc Chinh sat still. The one hundred and twenty square meter apartment... suddenly became too quiet. So quiet it makes people crazy. Tien Vi is not happy these days. After reading the letter, her attitude towards Luc Chinh changed clearly. Not cold... but becoming calculating.

"You said her assets are 800 million yuan, so the assets are in her name... how will they be divided during the divorce?"

“No division.”

“What do you mean if you don't share?”

"Her company is not part of common property. Even though it was registered during the marriage, the capital is her personal money. Furthermore, the share structure... you don't have any part."

Tien Vi's expression immediately changed.

“In other words… the one who left empty-handed was her, not you?”

Luc Chinh was silent.

“Luc Chinh, are you really stupid?” Her voice rose. "You don't even realize this situation? You've been married to a woman worth 800 million yuan for three years... and haven't gotten a single penny?"

“At that time I didn't know…”

“Don't know?” Tien Vi smiled coldly. "You live with her every day, but you don't know? She opened a bakery, you believe it? You're an investor, you can't even investigate your wife's assets?"

“She is your wife… not a project for you to analyze.”

"Alright." Tien Vi stood up, eyes were cold.

“Now I see… your judgment is really problematic.”

She carried her bag and walked away. The door slammed shut behind, the sound was very loud. Luc Chinh sat alone on the sofa, in front of him was a half-drunk glass of Tien Vi wine. He suddenly remembered that when To Niem was still here, there was always a pot of filtered water on the tea table. She said, bakers must keep their taste buds frugal, not drinking alcohol or eating spicy foods. Over the past three years, he criticized her for being boring. Turns out she was just protecting the taste that helped her build an empire. He picked up the glass of wine and took a sip. The first day To Niem arrived in Hangzhou, she did three things. First, move into the apartment next to Niem Chi Vi Hangzhou branch. Two-bedroom apartment with one living room, rent for four and a half thousand a month, extremely simple. Monday, go to the company for a two-hour meeting. The person in charge of the Hangzhou branch, Ha Vien, came out to greet her and almost couldn't stand.

"General Su, you said you'd come right away, without even a word of warning..."

"After reporting, you have to arrange transportation to pick you up, which is troublesome."

Tuesday, she took a trip to Hangzhou's largest baking ingredients market. She wore a t-shirt and jeans, squatted in front of a pile of flour bags, broke off a small piece to smell, and bargained with the supplier for a price. The supplier didn't know her, thinking he was the new owner of a small bakery.

"Miss, how much do you want this batch of flour? There is no discount under fifty kilos."

“Two hundred tons.”

The computer in the supplier's hand fell to the ground.